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A shower mixer is a valve which draws from both your hot and cold water supplies and mixes them so that you can control the temperature of your shower. But, not all shower mixers are born equal.
How does a shower mixer work?
What are mixer showers? Basically, it’s a shower that connects to both cold and hot water supplies in your home. They mix the existing hot and cold water in a valve before sending it on to the shower head, where it finally flies out at what’s normally a stronger flow than you can get with electric showers.
Are mixer showers good?
If you’ve got a plentiful supply of hot water then you may prefer a mixer shower, as it has a powerful flow and will give you more of a boost than an electric shower.
What is a mixer tap shower?
Bath shower mixer taps take hot and cold water feeds and combine them to a desirable and safe temperature. Once mixed, the water can come out from one of two spouts, both of which serve different functions, depending on the users need.
How do you use a mixer tap shower?
One type of bath mixer tap simply mixes and lets you play with the tap controls until the water is at the right temperature for you then you switch over to shower and it will send the same water out through the shower head.
What is the difference between a mixer shower and a thermostatic shower?
A manual mixer shower will mix hot and cold water to a set temperature but, unlike a thermostatic shower, it cannot react to sudden changes in temperature. A thermostatic shower instantly reacts to a change in water temperature and adjusts the water accordingly to get it back to the pre-set temperature.
What should I look for in a shower mixer?
Thermostatic mixer showers Requirements: Hot and cold water supply needed. Minimum 0.1 bar of water pressure. Recommendations: Use with an electric pump to increase water flow, if needed. Benefits: Avoids the risk of scalding, and the temperature is not affected by water use elsewhere in the home.
Is a mixer shower cheaper than electric?
Whether you choose an electric shower or a mixer shower will come down to your water pressure system, budget, and style. Essentially, electric showers are cheaper to install but mixer showers will give you better water flow.
Does a mixer shower need electric?
This does require a source of electricity. However, unlike an electric shower, a power shower does not heat the water with an electric current. Instead, they work like a mixer shower by taking hot water from your boiler and combining it with a cold water supply.
Does a mixer shower use electric?
Pros of mixer showers: Uses a gas boiler rather than electricity to heat the water, which is preferable in some households. Thermostatic mixer showers allow you to regulate temperature.
Are mixer taps better?
With two separate taps, you are limited to two flows of water—hot and cold. With a mixer tap, you can set the temperature as it flows from the taps. This makes it far easier to precisely control the temperature of your water, whether you are running a bath, washing or shaving with water as it emerges from the tap.
Are mixer taps safe?
Safety reasons Cold water in British taps is safe to drink, and we love it. Unlike many countries, the UK doesn’t have central heating system. Instead, everyone has their own boiler. It would heat up the water over time, so it would never be as fresh and could get contaminated during the process.
How do you install a mixer shower?
Decide where to take the hot and water supplies from. Isolate the supply. Run the pipework towards the shower. Flush the pipework through to remove any dirt. Work out how much outlet pipe is required. Cut the outlet pipes. Drill the holes. Place a collapsible olive into each inlet.
Why does my mixer tap shower go hot and cold?
The most common faults with mixer showers are: Intermittently running hot and cold. The usual suspects for this problem are a blocked shower head, kinked or damaged shower hose, or blocked inlet filters in the shower itself. It could also be due to faulty non-return valves.
Why is my mixer shower not hot enough?
The reason why you’re not getting enough hot water from your shower could be because the mixing valve isn’t working. The rubber parts found in the mixing valves get worn down over time, and you will need to replace it.
How much hot water does a mixer shower use?
Mixer showers generally use between 5 to 30 litres per minute, depending on the available water pressure. Flow restrictors supplied with most mixer showers will, if fitted, provide economical flow from the shower on high-pressure water supplies.
Are thermostatic showers worth it?
Thermostatic is so worth it. Without a thermostatic valve, every shower begins with futzing with the knob(s) trying to get the temperature right, reaching in with your hand so you know the water won’t be scalding hot or freezing cold.
Why have a thermostatic shower?
This is designed to prevent scalding, or thermic shock from sudden temperature changes when another tap, or shower, is turned on. If the cold-water supply fails, thermostatic showers are also designed to protect you by instantly shutting down the shower to avoid any scalding or injuries.
What is the best mixer shower to buy?
The Best Mixer Shower Bristan Quadrato Mixer. The Bristan Quadrato is a popular mixer shower set that’s available as an adjustable or fixed kit. Derpras Digital Mixer Shower Set. Hausbath Thermostatic Mixer. GROHE Euphoria Thermostat. Mira Showers Excel Variable. Bristan Zing Cool Touch Bar. iBathUK Thermostatic System.
Are shower mixers standard size?
Most mixer showers should be 150mm centres, but if you measure your existing outlets centre to centre you will know if the new mixer is compatible.
Can you have a mixer shower with a combi boiler?
Since they’re designed to be installed to low-pressure water supplies, it means they’re therefore unsuitable for combination boilers. However, mixer showers, digital showers and electric showers are all ideal for use with a combi boiler system.
